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Liraglutide and metformin combination accelerates fracture healing more than either alone in diabetic rats

RPEP-138422025Turhan, Banu; Sağlam, Sönmez; Yücel, Mücahit Osman; Dalaslan, Raşit Emin; Sungur, Mehmet Ali; Demir, Fatih; Karaduman, Zekeriya Okan; Arıcan, Mehmet
evidence
The takeaway

In partially insulinopenic diabetic rats, liraglutide + metformin combination improved fracture healing more than either monotherapy, with liraglutide showing bone-protective effects that complement metformin's metabolic benefits.

Combination heals fractures faster

Liraglutide + metformin improved fracture healing more than either alone in diabetic rats—supporting GLP-1 drugs for bone repair in diabetes

What the researchers found

Liraglutide + metformin: superior fracture healing vs monotherapy. Liraglutide: bone-protective effects. Metformin: metabolic benefits. Combination: complementary mechanisms. Partially insulinopenic diabetic rat model.

Why it matters

Diabetic patients have impaired fracture healing and increased fracture risk. Finding that liraglutide enhances healing—especially with metformin—supports using GLP-1 drugs in diabetic orthopedic patients.

How the study worked

Rat model of partially insulinopenic diabetes with induced fractures. Treatment groups: metformin, liraglutide, combination. Fracture healing assessment.

What this study cannot tell us

Rat model. Partially insulinopenic (not typical T2DM). Specific healing metrics in full study. Translation to human fracture healing uncertain.

How to read the evidence

Preclinical rat study. Good comparative data.

When this study was published

Published in 2025.

The bigger picture

GLP-1 drugs' bone-promoting effects add to their growing therapeutic portfolio. For the millions of diabetic patients who sustain fractures, this could change perioperative drug selection.

Questions still open

  • Should liraglutide be continued during diabetic fracture treatment?
  • Does the bone benefit apply to osteoporotic fractures without diabetes?
  • Would tirzepatide show even better fracture healing?

Common questions

Can GLP-1 drugs help broken bones heal?
In this rat study, liraglutide improved fracture healing in diabetic animals, and combining it with metformin was even better. Diabetes impairs bone healing, so finding that GLP-1 drugs help address this is clinically significant for the millions of diabetic patients at fracture risk.
Should I continue liraglutide if I break a bone?
Based on this animal study, yes—continuing liraglutide may actually help your fracture heal better. Discuss with your doctor, but this research suggests GLP-1 drugs have bone-protective properties that complement healing.

Read the original research

The effects of liraglutide and metformin treatment on fracture healing in partially insulinopenic diabetic rats.

Frontiers in endocrinology, 16, 1703958

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Turhan, Banu; Sağlam, Sönmez; Yücel, Mücahit Osman; Dalaslan, Raşit Emin; Sungur, Mehmet Ali; Demir, Fatih; Karaduman, Zekeriya Okan; Arıcan, Mehmet. (2025). The effects of liraglutide and metformin treatment on fracture healing in partially insulinopenic diabetic rats.. Frontiers in endocrinology, 16, 1703958. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2025.1703958